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Trucker protest leaves supermarket
shelves and gas pumps empty in southern Italy
[October 21, 2026]
MILAN (AP) — Some supermarket shelves and gas station pumps were
empty in the southern city of Naples on Tuesday due to a weeklong
protest by truck drivers against the high cost of diesel driven up by
the Iran war.
Protesters blocked the loading and unloading of fresh food and other
goods at supermarket distribution warehouses near Naples on Monday, Sky
TG24 reported. The truckers are adding their voices to demonstrations
that have spread across Europe as the war disrupts economies. |
A woman walks past empty shelves at a supermarket in Naples, Italy,
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) |
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One
supermarket in the city posted a note on empty shelves
apologizing that “some products may be temporarily unavailable
or available in a reduced range" due to the truckers' strike.
Shortages of fresh pasta, packaged cheeses and meats as well as
produce have been reported in Sicily, partly due to stockpiling
by shoppers. Partially empty supermarket shelves were also
reported in the southern regions of Calabria and Puglia.
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini met Tuesday with national
trucking associations to help the truckers cope, promising tax
credits to offset soaring diesel prices and funds to modernize
trucking fees.
Diesel prices are roughly a third higher than before the Iran
war, despite government-backed efforts to curb pump prices. A
temporary diesel tax discount expired earlier this month.
The president of the Unatras group of trucking associations,
Paolo Uggè, said Salvini promised that payments would begin
Wednesday and pledged legislation to address operating costs,
the news agency LaPresse reported. Another meeting was set for
next week.
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